Shelf construction with adjustable bracket



C. RAFFA SHELF CONSTRUCTION WITH ADJUSTABLE BRACKET Jan. 24, 1967 l 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 26, 1965 INVENTOR. CHARLES RAF/A BY WATTORNEY Jan. 24, 1967 c. RAFFA SHELF CONSTRUCTION WITH ADJUSTABLEBRACKET Filed April 26, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PAP/54 INVENTOR.

CHARLES United States Patent 3,300,170 SHELF CONSTRUCTION WITHADJUSTABLE BRACKET Charles Bath, 4701 Avenue K, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11234Filed Apr. 26, 1965, Ser. No, 450,810 6 Claims. (Cl. 24s-242) Thisinvention relates generally to shelf hardware, and is especiallyconcerned with a unique standard and bracket construction.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide shelfhardware including a standard and bracket, wherein the bracket isselectively adjustable to afford a relatively great number of supportingpositions for a shelf.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide shelfhard-ware wherein a bracket is readily adjustable to a substantialnumber of different predetermined inclinations.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide shelfhardware wherein a shelf suppoiting bracket is very convenientlyadjustable to a range of langular positions in a predeterminedinclination.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide uniqueimprovements in shelf hardware, including a shelf bracket and standardhaving an extremely simple construction, conveniently adjustablethroughout a wide range of positions, which is durable and reliablethroughout a long useful life, and which can be economicallymanufactured for sale at a reasonable price.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon readingthe following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings,which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangemerits of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope will be indicated by the appended claims,

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view showing a standard and bracketassembly constructed in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken generally along the line2-2 of FIGURE 1, and illustrating in phantom an alternate angularbracket position at the same predetermined inclination.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional elevational view taken generally alongthe line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional elevational view similar to FIGURE 3 showing analternative predetermined inclination of bracket.

FIGURE 5 is an additional sectional elevational view similar to FIGURE 3showing a further alternative bracket position with the bracketinverted.

FIGURE 6 is another sectional elevational view similar to FIGURE 3showing still a further predetermined inclination of bracket with thebracket inverted.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically toFIGURES 13 thereof, an upright or standard, generally designated 10, isof tubular or hollow construction and suitably fixed in its upstandingposition. Projecting laterally from the standard 10 is a bracket,generally designated 11.

The standard 10 may be of generally rectangular, hollow tubularconstruction including a pair of generally vertical side walls 13 and 14intersecting or meeting along a vertically extending corner 15. Thecomplete tubular standard 10 may include additional vertical side walls16 and 17 respectively parallel to the side walls 13 "ice and 14. Ifdesired, a panel-receiving channel 18 may be secured along the side wall16.

At vertically spaced locations along the standard 10 there is provided aseries or row of through openings or slots 20. The slots 20 arevertically elongate and in vertically spaced, aligned relation with eachother, all being located along and opening through the wall intersectionor corner 15. More particularly, the vertically elongate slots 20 eachopen through the standard corner 15 and extend ciroumferentiallyslightly beyond the corner, so that opposite sides of each slot 20 faceinward through and normal to respective standard walls 13 and 14, as at21 and 22, best seen in FIGURE 2.

The bracket 11 may advantageously be fabricated of relatively stiffsheet or plate material, including a laterally elongate, normallyvertically disposed body 25. The body 25 of bracket 11 is of outwardlytapering configuration, as between outwardly converging normally upperedge 26 and normally lower edge 27 Coplanar with the bracket body 25 andprojecting from the larger, inner end thereof, are a pair of verticallyspaced, upper and lower lugs or ears 30 and 31. The upper ear 30 isproximate to and below the upper edge 26, while the lower ear 31 isproximate to and above the lower edge 27.

As may be seen in FIGURE 3, the upper and lower lugs or cars 30 and '31are each formed with a lower cutout or notch, as at 32 and 33,respectively. The notches 32 and 33 may be generally rectangular and insubstantial alignment with each other, generally normal to the upperbracket edge 26.

It will be observed that the vertical extent of the lugs or ears 30 and31, as well as the vertical spacing therebetween, is such as to permitsimultaneous movement of the upper and lower lugs inward and outwardthrough a pair of adjacent vertically spaced slots 20. Further, thelower notches 32 and 33 are adapted to respectively receive the loweredges of a pair of adjacent slots 20' with the lugs inserted through theslots, the condition of FIGURE 3. As the notches 32 and 33 aresubstantially aligned, generally normal to the bracket edge 26, thereception in such notches of the lower edges of receiving slots 20serves to support the bracket 11 with its upper edge substantiallyhorizontal, the condition shown in FIGURE 3.

It will be further observed that the notches 32 and 3-3 are of a widthgreater than the thickness of the standard walls, thereby affording aslight degree of play without binding.

In the solid-line condition of FIGURE 2, the lugs 30 and 31 are infacing engagement with the inner surface of wall 13 of the standard, thelugs extending through the side portions 22 of the slots 20, and thebracket body 25 projecting outward from the standard generally normal tothe wall 14. However, by the configuration of the slots 20, to extendslightly beyond the corner 15, and by the loose receiving fit of notches32 and 33 with the lower edges of the slots, the bracket 11 is swingableto the phantom position of FIGURE 2. In this position the lugs 30 and 31are in facing engagement with the inner surface of standard wall 14,extending outward through the side portions 21 of respective slots 20,with the bracket body 25 projecting outward from the standard 10generally normal to the wall 13. Of course, in addition to the solidanddot-and-dash out-line position shown in FIGURE 4, the bracket 11 may beselectively located at any position of its angular swinging movementbetween the extreme, illustrated positions.

In addition to the lower edge notches 32 and 33 of lugs 30 and 31, theupper and lower lugs are respectively formed with a pair of upper edgenotches 35 and 36.

It will be observed that the notches 35 and 36 are offset from or outof'alignment-with eachsother, the latter being inward of the former.Further, the upper edge notch 35 is generally adjacent to the lower edgenotch 33, but extends at an angle thereto. The upper edge notch 35 isgenerally adjacent to the lower edge notch 33, but offset therefrom andof a flaring configuration.

In addition, a lower edge of lower lug 31 is provided with a secondnotch 37, spaced inward from the notch 33. The notch 37 may be ofgenerally triangular configuration, Opening both downward and inwardfrom the lug 31. An upper edge notch 38, also of triangularconfiguration, is provided on the upper edge of upper lug 30, spacedinward from the upper edge notch 35 and opening both upwardly andinwardly from the latter lug.

In FIGURE 4 is shown an alternative position of the bracket 11 whereinthe upper, shelf-supporting bracket edge 26 is disposed at aninclination to the horizontal. In this position, the lower notch 32 ofupper lug 30 recei'ves the lower edge of its adjacent slot 20, while theinner lower edge notch 37 of lower lug 31 receives the lower edge of itsadjacent slot 20. This condition is facilitated by the width of notch 32affording a degree of swingability to the bracket about a horizontalaxis.

A further alternative position is shown-in FIGURE 5, with the bracket 11in an inverted condition, the bracket edge 26 lowermost and bracket edge27 uppermost. this condition, the now lower edge notch 36 of now upperlug 31 receives the lower edge of an upper slot 20, while now lowernotch 38 of now lower lug 30 receives the lower edge of a lower slot 20.The bracket edge 27 may support a shelf, or the like, in its illustratedinclination.

The inverted condition of bracket 11 is further illustrated in FIGURE 6,but with the now lower notch 35 of now lower lug 30 receiving the loweredge of a lower slot 20. The lug 31 in the position of FIGURE 6 issubstantially the same as shown in the position of FIGURE 5, but at aslightly different angular relationship, as permitted by the flaringconfiguration of notch 36. In the condition of FIGURE 6, it will beapparent that the now upper edge 27 of bracket 11 is retained at stillanother angular disposition for supporting a shelf or the like.

Of course, in all the above dispositions of bracket inclination, thebracket is swingable about a generally vertical axis substantially atthe corner 15 and selectively locata-ble in any position of its swingingmovement.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides ashelf bracket and standard construction which fully accomplish theirintended objects and are well adapted to meet practical conditions ofmanufacture, installation and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by wayof illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, itis understood that certain changes and modifications may be made withinthe spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a shelf construction, the combination comprising a hollow standardhaving a pair of vertically spaced slots, and a bracket having a pair ofvertically spaced lugs removably insertable in said slots, said lugshaving lower notches removably receiving the lower edges of said slotswhen said lugs are engaged in said slots to retain said bracket with itssupporting upper edge in one predetermined inclination, and said lugshaving upper notches removably receiving the lower slot edges when saidbracket is inverted and said lugs are inserted in said slots to retainthe bracket with its formerly lower edge in an upper supporting positionof another predetermined inclination.

2. The combination according to claim 1, in com-bination with anadditional lower notch on at least one of said lugs and selectivelyreceiving the lower edge of the adjacent slot for retaining said bracketin an additional predetermined inclination.

3. The combination according to claim 1, the upper and lower edges ofsaid bracket being inclined relative to each other to provide saidpredetermined inclinations.

4. The combination according to claim 1, said upper and lower notchesbeing offset to provide said predetermined inclinations.

5. The combination according to claim 1, said standard comprising a pairof generally upright intersecting walls, and said slots being located atthe meeting corner of said walls, whereby said bracket is swingablebetween positions with said lugs engaging a selected one of said walls.

6. The combination according to claim 2, said standard comprising a pairof generally upright intersecting walls, and said slots being located atthe meeting corner of said walls, whereby said bracket is swingablebetween extreme :positions with said lugs engaging the interiors of saidwalls.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 945,280 1/1910Lindberg 248-242 2,788,949 4/1957 Gurries 248242 2,971,658 2/1961DAltrui 2ll176 3,194,407 7/1965 DAltrui 2ll148 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, PrimaryExaminer. W. D. 'LOULAN, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A SHELF CONSTRUCTION, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A HOLLOW STANDARDHAVING A PAIR OF VERTICALLY SPACED SLOTS, AND A BRACKET HAVING A PAIR OFVERTICALLY SPACED LUGS REMOVABLY INSERTABLE IN SAID SLOTS, SAID LUGSHAVING LOWER NOTCHES REMOVABLY RECEIVING THE LOWER EDGES OF SAID SLOTSWHEN SAID LUGS ARE ENGAGED IN SAID SLOTS TO RETAIN SAID BRACKET WITH ITSSUPPORTING UPPER EDGE IN ONE PREDETERMINED INCLINATION, AND SAID LUGSHAVING UPPER NOTCHES REMOVABLY RECEIVING THE LOWER SLOT EDGES WHEN SAIDBRACKET IS INVERTED AND SAID LUGS ARE INSERTED IN SAID SLOTS TO RETAINTHE BRACKET WITH ITS FORMERLY LOWER EDGE IN AN UPPER SUPPORTING POSITIONOF ANOTHER PREDETERMINED INCLINATION.